As an owner of AirPods, I’ve been frustrated by their seemingly random cutting out while playing music. After doing some research, I decided to take it upon myself to try and figure out why my AirPods were cutting out. Through my research, I was able to improve my knowledge and expertise on how to troubleshoot this issue. In this blog post, I’m going to share with you my personal experience and the solutions I discovered in order to help you fix your AirPods cutting out issue.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Bluetooth interference is the most common cause of AirPods cutting out while playing music. |
| Outdated iOS can also lead to audio disruption. |
| Automatic Ear Detection may be malfunctioning. |
| Low battery power can cause audio disruption. |
| To fix the issue, improve the Bluetooth connection, keep the iOS device up to date, turn off Automatic Ear Detection, and reset and reconnect the AirPods. |
Table of Contents
Why do my AirPods keep cutting out while playing music?
There could be several different reasons as to why the AirPods and AirPods Pro keep cutting out while playing music. The most common cause, however, is Bluetooth interference.
Bluetooth Interference
Bluetooth uses the same radio frequency as Wi-Fi, and using the headphones in an area with Bluetooth Wi-Fi could result in interference, thus causing your music to cut in and out.
To check to see if this is the issue, try playing music or another type of audio file that is currently stored on your iOS device and not one that you are streaming.
If your AirPods or AirPods Pro maintain the connection without cutting out, then that is a sure sign that Bluetooth interference is the cause of the problem.
If, however, the audio file still cuts out, then there is another culprit causing the issue.
Outdated iOS
Another reason for music cutting out is outdated iOS. The best defense against this is to always keep your iOS devices updated with the latest software.
Not only will this help to keep your AirPods running smoothly, but it also helps protect your iOS devices against bugs and security issues.
Automatic Ear Detection
A malfunctioning Automatic Ear Detection may also result in the music cutting out, though this problem is not as common as Bluetooth interference or outdated software.
The Automatic Ear Detection is designed to automatically detect when the headphones are in your ear, as well as when you take them out.
If, however, the sensor isn’t working properly, it may result in the AirPods cutting in and out of your music.
Low Battery
Since AirPods rely on their battery to keep them going, having low battery power can lead to disruption in the AirPods performance.
Thankfully, this issue can be easily fixed by making sure their battery is charged. You should let the AirPods charge for at least 15 minutes before trying to reconnect them to the device.
Read more: Can you use AirPods for gaming?
How to get my AirPods to stop cutting out while playing music?
The exact process to stop your AirPods from cutting off while playing music will depend on what is causing the issue.
If it is Bluetooth interference, you will need to improve the Bluetooth connection.
This can be done by keeping your iOS device as close to you as possible when using your AirPods or AirPods Pro. Make sure that there are no floors, walls, or other obstructions between you and the iOS device.
Also, if you are in an area where an abundance of devices are connected to Wi-Fi, try moving away from that area.
If the issue isn’t caused by Bluetooth interference and you have updated your iOS device and are still having issues, try unpairing the AirPods and then repairing them. To do this, follow these steps:
- Go to your iOS device’s settings.
- Click on Bluetooth.
- Find the AirPods and click on either ‘unpair’ or ‘forget device’.
- Restart the iOS device.
- Make sure the AirPods are in their charging case with the lid open.
- Place the case next to the iOS device.
- Once the device has turned back on, follow the animation on the device’s screen to reconnect the AirPods.
For issues with a malfuncting Automatic Ear Detection sensor, simply turn this feature off by going to the device’s settings and clicking on ‘Bluetooth’. Your AirPods will be on the list of paired devices.
Click on the icon beside AirPods and then select “Turn Off Automatic Ear Detection”. Your iOS device will need to be restarted after the feature has been turned off.
Reset and reconnect your AirPods
If you are still having issues, try resetting and reconnecting your AirPods. To do this, do the following:
Forget your AirPods from your device, put them in the case, open the lid and hold the button for 15 seconds until the light flashes orange then white. Turn on the Bluetooth on your device and reconnect your AirPods to the device.
Read more: Why are my AirPods taking so long to charge?
Why do my AirPods pause music?
The Automatic Ear Detection feature will automatically pause your music when the AirPod is taken out of the ear, either voluntarily or by accident.
This ensures you don’t miss any part of your favorite tunes.
Unfortunately, this feature can sometimes malfunction, resulting in the audio pausing even when both AirPods are in your ears. Thankfully, you can disable this feature in your iOS device settings.
Another option is to try to clean the sensors, which are the little black dots on each of the AirPods or AirPods Pro bud, by gently brushing them with a soft, gentle brush to remove any debris.
While you’re cleaning the sensors, give the exterior of the AirPods a good wipe down with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened in 70-percent isopropyl alcohol.
Remember to never submerge the AirPods in water, or use harsh, abrasive cleaners on them. Furthermore, avoid using any cleaning products on the AirPod’s ear cushions or mesh canopy.
Why does one AirPod cut out when playing music?
If your AirPod or AirPod Pro is still cutting out even after troubleshooting, your next option is to reset both the iOS device and the AirPods.
This will require going into your settings section on your iOS device, clicking on General, and then hitting Rest. Select ‘Reset All Settings’ and then restart your device.
You will then need to reconnect the AirPods to your iOS device. Before reconnecting, however, reset the AirPods by placing them in their charging case with their lid open.
Find the setup button, which is located on the back of the charging case, and hold down the button for several seconds until the light blinks an amber color.
Then close the charging case lid. Go back to your iOS device’s settings and unpair the AirPods from the Bluetooth section on the device. Once the phone has been restarted, reconnect the AirPods.
If none of the troubleshooting instructions fixed the problem, reach out to Apple Support via their toll-free number or support app for further assistance.
Pros
- Troubleshooting tips to help fix AirPods cutting out issue.
- Easy to understand instructions.
- Step-by-step guide on how to reset and reconnect AirPods.
Cons
- The Automatic Ear Detection feature may malfunction.
- Bluetooth interference may be difficult to avoid.
- Outdated iOS can lead to audio disruption.
